When is the best time to sell your business?

Every entrepreneur will face it at some point: the sale of the business. The best time varies from one situation to another. Perhaps your business has experienced tremendous growth and you have turned into a manager, rather than an entrepreneur. Or you have reached a certain age and you are ready for the next phase in life. Whatever the reason for selling may be, there are several things to consider.

Increasing your business value

It is a good idea to gain insight into the value of your business and to find out what steps you need to take to make the company ready for sale and saleable. A higher business value increases the chances of a successful deal. This also means you need to be able to properly justify the risks and understand the external factors at play. There is no clear-cut way to determine the right time to sell a business, but each entrepreneur has a number of steps to take to create an as ideal as possible starting position. First and foremost, we advise you to start in time, as it is an intensive process, that comes on top of day-to-day operations. You need to make sure to have your accounting records in order and to have all figures with respect to accounting, sales and marketing readily available. A clear future outlook and budget make an attractive proposition for potential buyers. An independent management team or executive team will prove an advantage as well: it proves your business does not rest on your shoulders alone.

Ready to sell the business

Our advisors will be happy to explore your intention to sell the business and to set out a solid exit strategy. Gaining in popularity is, for example, the pre-exit, that allows you to cash out part of your equity and step back from your business in stages. From a strategic perspective, selling to a larger business is an interesting option to safeguard the future and continuity of your company. The process of making your business ready for sale and saleable is unique for every entrepreneur, and requires a tailor-made approach. If you are toying with the idea to sell your business, come to our “Successful sale in 10 steps masterclass”, where you will find out all you need to know about all aspects of the process. Participation is without obligation and we will create a safe an fully confidential setting in which you can exchange ideas with fellow entrepreneurs and experts. Are you interested or would you like to speak to one of our advisors? Please, leave your contact details, we will be in touch within two working days.